Upper engine lubricating device



Nov. 10, 1953 Filed June 28. 1949 L. M. HERZFELD UPPER ENGINE .LUBRICATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A 00 3 M HEHZFELD H TTOI /VEYS Nov. 10, 1953 L.M.HERZFELD UPPER ENGINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed June 28. 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTUR.

Lou/s M HmzFgL 0 BY Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,658,494 UPPER ENGINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Louis M. Herzfeld, Beverly Hills, Calif. Application June 28, 1949, Serial No. 101,796

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an engine oiling device and more particularly to an oiling device for introducing lubricating oil into the upper end of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine.

It is an object of this invention to provide an engine lubricating device of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter which is perable by the vacuum of the intake manifold or carburetor for introducing lubricating oil into the combustion mixture fed to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine to provide for the proper lubrication of the side walls of the cylinders in all the operating conditions of the engine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an upper engine lubricating device for injecting lubricating oil into the combustion mixture to lubricate the valve stems, bearings and seats, the gasoline mixer devices, the upper cylinder walls, upper piston rings and all other moving parts in the upper portion of the engine subject to excessive wear from the lack of proper lubrication when the engine is either extremely hot or extremely cold.

Still another object of this invention is to supply the engine lubricating oil to the parts in the cylinders in greater quantities when the engine is cold when the use of the gasoline choke, automatic or manual, washes away the thin film of lubricant generally provided. The supply of lubricant, while greater during the warm-up period, returns to the normal regulated amount after the engine has attained its operating temperature.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lubricating device or oiler of this kind which is continually maintained with an adequate supply of oil from the reserve supply in the oil pan of the engine. filling oiler of this kind the requirement for the manual, periodic, filling is eliminated and a constant supply of clean oil from the oil cleaner is always provided in the cylinders.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an oiling device of this kind which is responsive to both the speed and temperature requirements of the engine to provide the proper lubrication for the cylinders and is so connected to the combustion mixture control means to provide an added amount of air to be injected into the combustion charge after the engine is thoroughly warmed up to provide a more efiicient and complete combustion of the charge resulting in a smaller carbon deposit.

By providing a self- 4 With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of an internal combustion engine, having an upper engine lubricating device constructed according to an embodiment of this'invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the engine lubricating device, removed from the engine.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the lubricating device.

Figure 4 is a vertical section, taken on the line l--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal transverse section, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a transverse section, taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse section, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates generally an internal combustion engine of the type generally used in automobiles and the like and the upper engine lubricating device i l is designed for application to an internal combustion engine of this type to be connected between the carbureter or intake manifold thereof and the oil sump or pan. The engine I0 is formed with an oil sump l2 at the bottom thereof and generally an oil filter I4 is connected to the pump, not shown in the drawings, within the engine for cleaning the oil before it is pumped in a direction for lubricating the moving parts. A tube or line I5 is connected between the pump within the engine and the oil filter l4 and the discharge line, usually connected to the oil filter, is connected to the lubricating device H, formed according to an embodiment of this invention. While the engine lubricating device H, is shown as connected to the oil filter I l, it is understood that the oil line which is connectedto the lubricating device Il may be connected at any other point in the lubricating system at which the oil of the engine may be pumped upwardly into the device. The lubricating device I l is also shown in the drawings as connected to the carbureter it, but it will be understood that the oil outlet port of the lubricating device I I may be connected to either the carbureter is or to the intake manifold or at any other position along the vacuum circuit or arrangement of the engine In short reservoir I! having a top wall I9, a cylindrical side wall I8 and a bottom wall which is threadedly engaged in the lower open end of the wall I8. The wall 2!} is formed with an aperture 2I therein within which an oil inlet fitting 22 is adapted to be threadably or removably engaged. A second aperture 24 is formed in the bottom wall 20 and an outlet fitting 25 is threadably engaged in the opening 24. A third aperture 25 is formed in the bottom wall 20 and a screw or plug 21 is threadably engaged in the threaded aperture 26 providing a drain plug in the opening 25 from which the lubricant contained wtihin the reservoir I1 may be drained when it is desired to clean or service the lubricating device II.

An upwardly extending tubular member or pipe 28' is fixed to or otherwise carried by the inlet fitting 22 and extends upwardly within the reservoir I1 approximately one-half the total length of the reservoir and the oil entering the reservoir is adapted to be entered through the inlet fitting 22 and pipe 28. The inlet fitting 22 is connected at its outer end to the pipe or line which is connected at its other end to the discharge side of the oil filter I4.

An overflow pipe 3-I is connected to the overflow fitting 25 and extends upwardly within the reservoir I1 for establishing a point, at its upper end, at which the oil or other lubricant within the reservoir I! may be maintained. When the fluid entering the inlet pipe 28 has filled the container or reservoir I! to the level of the upper end of the overflow pipe 3I, the lubricant will flow downwardly through the pipe 3|, the nipple 25 and the return line 32 its upper end to the nipple 25 and at its lower end to the sump i2.

The reservoir I7, between the top wall I9, the bottom wall 26 and the side walls I8 define a lower oil supply chamber 34 for containing a supply of oil. A marginal bead or rib 36 is fixed to or formed on the upper side of the top Wall I9 and a transparent, semi-cylindrical dome 37 is fixedly secured to the top wall I9 in engagement with the inner surface of the peripheral head or flange -36 to form an upper or vacuum pressure chamber 35. A suitable sealing member 38 is adapted to be positioned between the extreme outer surface of the dome II at its lower end and between the inner surface of the flange 36 for sealingly securing the dome 31 on the reservoir I7, for the purposes to be hereinafter described.

The top wall I9 is formed with a passage or opening 39 therethrough which extends vertically, opening on the lower side thereof and at the upper end and a tube or pipe 40 is adapted to be positioned within the opening 39 and extended downwardly below the lower edge of the top wall I9 and upwardly within the chamber 35. The lower end of the oil line 40 is disposed adjacent the bottom wall 20 and will be substantially submerged within the oil supply contained within the reservoir, considerably below the upper constant level. The upper end of the tube 40 is arcuately bowed, as clearly noted in Figure 4 of the drawings, and opens downwardly within the chamber 35, the lower open end of the tube -40, within the chamber 35 being positioned upwardly in spaced relation the upper surface of which is connected at chamber 4. the top wall I9. The tube 40 is provided for conveying or conducting the lubricant from the lower chamber 34 upwardly into the upper chamber 35 as effected by the vacuum pressure in the manner to be described hereinafter.

A small well M is formed on the upper surface of the top wall I9 and positioned below the open end of the tube 40 within the chamber 35 and the top "wall I9 is further formed with a passage 42 which opens at its upper end at the bottom of the well M and opens downwardly through the bottom surface of the top wall I9.

A vacuum line 44 is connected within the reservoir I! for communication with the upper 35 and is formed of a short length of tubing to be contained within the side walls I8. One end of the tube 44 is threadably engaged in the lower end of the passage 42 and the lower end of the tube 44 is connected to a nipple 45 on one side of the Wall I8 for communication with an outside vacuum line. One end of the exterior vacuum line 46 is connected to the nipple 45 on the outside of the reservoir I7 and the other end of the vacuum line 46 may be connected to the carburetor I5 at a desired position, as at the throat, or the line 46 may be connected to the intake manifold of the engine Ii). The normal operation of the engine In establishes a vacuum in the lines 46 and 44 and in the upper chamber 35. There being a vacuum in the chamber 35 and transfer line or pipe 40, the atmospheric pressure exerted on the surface of the fluid supply contained within the lower chamber 34 effects the movement of fluid upwardly through the pipe 40 into the upper chamber 34 and through the wall 4|, passage 42 and vacuum lines 44 and 46 to be conveyed to the upper end of the cylinders of the engine, by way of the combustion charge within the intake manifold or carburetor.

A restricted vent passage or aperture 4-! is formed in the flange 36 and is extended downwardly through the top wall IQ of the reservoir I 7 for communicating the lower chamber 34 with the outside, atmospheric, air pressure. The aperture 4'! provides for the entrance of air into the lower chamber 34 as the air is exhausted through the vacuum line during the operation of the engine 10.

For controlling the amount 'of fluid which will be transferred from the lower supply chamber 34 to the upper chamber 35, a needle valve 43 is threadably engaged in an outwardly extending threaded opening 49 formed in the top wall I9 and communicating at its inner end with the air conduit 55. The needle valve 48 is tensioned in a selected position as adjusted within the threaded aperture 43 by a coiled spring 50 which is engageable in a recess 5| which opens 'outwardly from the side wall of the reservoir 17, in the top wall I9 and bears against the innersurface of the head 52 on the outer end of the needle valve 48. The spring 50 supplies the suitable or desired tension for maintaining the needle valve 48 in its selected, adjusted position in the air conduit 55. The needle valve '48 is formed with a longitudinally extending bore or passage 54 which extends from the outer end thereof, in the head 52 to a transverse bore 'or passage 54' adjacent theextreme inner, pointed, end 55' of the needle valve. The passage 54 establishes communication from the outside atmospheric pressure with the upper chamber 35. A short air passage 55 opens at its lower end in communication with the air conduit 54 in the vacuum means as represented by the passage d2 within the head or top wall 19. The thermostat 57! is formed of an elongated tubular body 58 having a cap or closure member 58 on the lower end thereof. A coupling member til is rotatably carried by the upper end of the tubular body 58 and is threadably engaged with a nipple or union M which is threadably engaged in a recess 62 on one side of the head I8, opposite from the adjusting screw 48. A bimetallic element 64 is fixed within the thermostat 57, by the fixed engagement of the upper end of the bimetallic element 64 within the tubular member 58 or thereabove, as shown in Figure l of the drawings, by connection with the downwardly extending passage 65 of the nipple or union 6!. the tubular body 58 are formed with a registering opening or air vent 86 extending outwardly therefrom. A needle or valve member El is car ried by the extreme free lower end of the bimetallic element (i i and is adapted to be positioned in the aperture 65 for closing the air vent when the engine temperature is below the normal operating range. As the engine temperature rises, the bimetallic element 64 will be bowed for moving the valve element 61' out of closing r engagement with the vent 66 to permit a certain amount of air to enter the lubricating device H. The horizontal or inwardly extending passage 68 of the nipple or union 6| opens at its inner end in communication with a transverse, restricted air passage 69, formed in the top Wall 19 between the oil passage t2 and the recess 62.

An L-shaped supporting bracket 10 is formed to be fixed at its lower end to the upper side of the engine It by the engagement of one of the head bolts or studs through the transverse or horizontal bar H. The lubricating device [I is fixedly supported on the vertically extending bar 72 by a fastening bolt 14 engaging through the side wall [8 of the reservoir l1 above the fluid level therein and through an aperture '35 in the upper end of the vertically extending bar or arm 12. The bolt 14 is fixed on the upwardly extending arm 12 by nuts 16 or other suitable fastening devices for fixedly securing the lubricating device on the bracket or supporting member 16. As the thermostat 51, carried by the lubricating device l l is positioned in the drawings, substantially as a part of the reservoir H, the thermostat will be positioned in close proximity to the head of the engine and is designed to be responsive to the temperature of the engine head. If it is desired to position the lubricating device H at some other place on the vehicle, remote from the engine, the thermostat '51 must be suitably positioned close to the engine to be responsive to the temperature thereof and the connection between the passage 86 and passage E9 of the head it may be accomplished by suitable tubing or other vacuum conveying means.

In the use and operation of the lubricating device ll, constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, the lubricating device is mounted on the bracket Til immediately adjacent the upper end of the engine It and the thermo- The cap 59 and lower end of 3 stat 5'8, fixedly carried by the reservoir 11 is positioned immediately above the head of the engine. The reservoir H i connected to the oil filter or oil pump by way of the oil line 30 for supplying oil to the reservoir and the constant level of oil within the reservoir is maintained by the overflow pipe 3! which conveys the excess lubricant downwardly out of the reservoir to the oil sump l2. When the engine is cold and not running, the bimetallic element 64 is swung to the left, as viewed in Figure 4 of the drawings whereupon the valve element 62 is engaged in the aperture t6 for closing the aperture. Upon initially starting the cold engine, the vacuum line between the engine and the lubricating device I I is established in the vacuum lines 46 and 44 for establishing a vacuum in the chamber 35. As the oil pump i operating at this time, or normally the level of the oil within the chamber 34 will be established prior to starting of the engine, the vacuum in the chamber 35 will draw the oil in the chamber 36 upwardly through the transfer tube 4Q for flowing oil from the lower chamber 34 into the vacuum line 34 and thence to the manifold. or carburetor IS. AS the cold engine requires an excess of lubrication in the upper end of the cylinders, the closing of the aperture 56 provides for the full application of the vacuum for drawing oil upwardly out of the reservoir ll. As the engine temperature rises, the bimetallic element 64 will move the valve element 61 out of the aperture 66 thereby relieving the vacuum pressure as exerted within the chamber 35 for lifting the oil from the lower chamber 34. During the operation of the engine the thermostat Eil, being responsive to the temperature of the engine, will suitably control the transfer of the oil from the reservoir ll into the intake manifold or intake line to the upper end of the cylinders. By adjusting the set screw 48, the maximum, initial, transfer of oil from the lower chamber 34 to the cylinder heads may be suitably controlled, the adjustment of the set screw 48 determining only the maximum flow of lubricant to the engine from the lubricating device ll while the thermostat 51 will suitably control the transfer of oil as the engine temperature rises to operating condition. After initially setting the set screw at, no further attention need be given to the initial or maximum setting as the thermostat M will suitably control the oil transfer. The control of the thermostat 51 will normally provide for the variation of the oil transfer from six drops of oil per minute from the lower chamber 34 to the vacuum line 46 to a maximum of twelve drops a minute when the engine is cold. The normal range of engine temperature is from 60 F. to F. and the thermostat controlled valve opening 66, together with the valve element El are formed for providing the range of oil transfer from six to twelve drops within the normal temperature range.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variation falling within the purview of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine, a lubricant reservoir having a top wall closing the same, a dome mounted on the top wall and forming therewith a vacuum pressure chamber, supply means for said reservoir, an overflow pipe in said reservoir for maintaining a constant level of lubricant, a pipe extending through the top wall and connecting the chamber and the reservoir, a passage in said top wall communicating at one end with said chamher, a vacuum line from the intake manifold of the engine connected to said passage at the other end thereof, a tubular body supported at one end in said top wall, said body communicating at said one end with said passage, said body having an opening therein for connecting the interior of said body with the atmosphere, a valve in said tubular body for closing said opening, a bimetallic thermostat connected to said valve, said valve being operable by the thermostat in response to the engine temperature for controlling the extent of communication of the passage and chamber with atmospheric pressure.

LOUIS M. HERZFELD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 49 047 771,803

Name Date Lemp Dec, 25, .1917 Warren .Feb. 28, 1928 Bryan Sept. 3, 1929 Scott July 14, 1931 Davisson Aug. 23, 1932 Quivey Feb. 7, 1933 Clementson V. July 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 19, 1938 France July 30, 1934 

